It’s Independence Day

July 02, 2009

To the editor:

I hear it and read it every year. Have a happy 4th! Fourth of July celebrations around the area! Big 4th of July sale! And even from the Daily American “Published daily except New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, July Fourth, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.”

When a friend tells me to have a happy 4th, occasionally I will tease them by asking straight faced “Do you know if they have the 4th of July in Russia?” I usually get an odd look and the answer “no.” Then I ask if their calendar goes from July 3 to July 5. Of course they have July 4th. It just isn’t a holiday.

The holiday we celebrate is Independence Day. We all know that, but for some reason, have gotten away from calling the holiday by the correct name. We don’t say Merry Dec. 25 or Happy January First. Why then Happy Fourth of July.

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Our founding fathers made great and terrible sacrifices to gain our independence. Let us honor them by calling our most important national holiday by the true and correct name. Independence Day.